October 2025 - Update
Wellington Catholic District School Board will be postponing the implementation of the middle school model for Grade 7 and 8 students at Our Lady of Lourdes. This delay is necessary to accommodate significant renovation work funded through time-limited Ministry of Education capital allocations announced this fall.
As a result, St. Joseph Catholic School will continue to serve students from Kindergarten through Grade 8 for the 2026–2027 school year. We will do our best to minimize any disruptions related to capacity during this time.
The new middle school at Our Lady of Lourdes is now scheduled to open in September 2027, at which point it will welcome students in Grades 7 and 8 from St. Joseph Catholic School. Student safety and wellbeing are always our top priorities. Deferring the opening of the middle school will allow time for renovations to be completed within Ministry timelines, create an enhanced space for students to learn and grow, and support a smooth transition to the middle school model at the start of a new school year.
We will continue to provide updates as more information is made available. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. 2024 Attendance Area and Grade Structure Review
Outcome of the Attendance Area and Grade Structure Review
During the Meeting of the Board on June 2, 2025, final staff recommendations for the Central West Guelph and Secondary Attendance Area and Grade Structure Review were presented and approved by the Board of Trustees.
The following items were approved for the start of the 2026-27 school year, unless otherwise noted:
- Grade 7 and 8 students from St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (Guelph) will transition to a middle school program at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Secondary School. Other Grade 7 and 8 students in Central West Guelph will also be permitted to register for the program at Our Lady of Lourdes where space is available
- An administrative boundary change will reassign Area SJ2 from St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (Guelph) to Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School (Guelph) Students from Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School (Guelph) will be directed to St. James Catholic High School
- The decision to transition Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School (Rockwood) to become part of the Bishop Macdonell Catholic Secondary School Family of Schools will be deferred
- Board staff will continue to monitor enrolment at St. Francis of Assisi and St. Peter Catholic Elementary School
- Board staff will explore the feasibility of submitting a Capital Priorities funding request to the Ministry of Education for West Guelph
These initiatives will help address enrollment pressures while minimizing disruption for students and supporting their overall wellbeing. The transition process for initiatives being implemented in the 2026-27 school year will begin this fall. Additional information and resources will be shared directly with school communities impacted throughout the 2025-26 school year. We look forward to working closely with students, families, and staff to ensure a successful and seamless transition.
Attendance Area and Grade Structure Review Final Recommendations
Attendance Area and Grade Structure Review Final Recommendations - Tigrinya